• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.45-58
• /
• 2016

Freezing and thawing cycles induce deterioration and strength degradation of concrete structures. This study presumes that a large quantity of contact-type defects develop due to the freezing and thawing cycles of concrete and evaluates the degree of defects based on a nonlinearity parameter. The nonlinearity parameter was obtained by an impact-modulation technique, one of the nonlinear ultrasonic methods. It is then used as an indicator of the degree of contact-type defects. Five types of damaged samples were fabricated according to different freezing and thawing cycles, and the occurrence of opening or cracks on a micro-scale was visually verified via scanning electron microscopy. Dynamic modulus and wave velocity were also measured for a sensitivity comparison with the obtained nonlinearity parameter. The possibility of evaluating strength degradation was also investigated based on a simple correlation of the experimental results.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.74-77
• /
• 2003

A simple, reproducible, and rapid gas chromatographic method for putrefactive metabolite determination in feces was developed. The method involves the direct injection of fecal supernatants into the gas chromatograph, without pretreatment. The mass spectra of these metabolites were obtained using an HP 5971 mass selective detector operated in electron impact (EI) ionization mode. This method produced sharp peaks and allowed the simultaneous determination of fecal putrefactive metabolites.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
• /
• v.61 no.7
• /
• pp.1001-1006
• /
• 2012

This paper presents a carbon nanotube (CNT) triode-structure field emitter as an ion source in a micro time-of-flight mass spectrometer(TOF-MS). In the ion source by field emission, the electrons emitted from cathodes under an electric field accelerated to the anode and ionize gas molecules by impact before arriving the anode. The generated positive ions are to be accelerated to the ion collector. Whereas most of ions are drawn to the cathodes in diode field emitters, a grid in the triode field emitter prevents the ions from being drawn to the cathodes. The triode field emitter is fabricated by micromachining. The cathode is composed of six CNT cylinders. The total size of the fabricated device is $8.0{\times}7.3{\times}1.9mm^3$. The anode and the grid current of the fabricated CNT field emitter were measured for various anode and grid voltages. When the anode and the grid voltages are 1000 V and 990 V, respectively, the emission current passing through the ionization region is 8.6 ${\mu}A$, which is a sufficient emission current for ionization and mass spectrometry.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.111-118
• /
• 1998

To develop a simple, rapid and simultaneous analytical method of phenolic compounds using gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrophometer (GC/Ms), this experiment was carried out to search the retention times of capillary columns and the characteristics of fragment ions in electron impact mass spectra. Most of trimethylsilyl derivatives and underivatized phenolic compounds were separated very well on three kinds of capillary columns(HP-1), Ultra-2 and HP-35). Quantitiative determination of phenolic compounds was achieved by internal standards (p-hydroxybenzoic acid iopropyl ester, p-hydroxybenzoic acid ethyl ester). Calibration plts were linear in the investigated range, and the limits of detection were about 5 ng at split mode method. When analyzed by three columns, theseparation times were fairly constant on two nonpolar columns, but a few compounds showed slightly different separation order by the itnermediate polar HP-35 column. The important characteristic patterns of TMS derivatives of phenolic compounds on the EI/MS spectrra appeared at the base peak of [M-15]+ ion and presented at high abundance in most TMS derivatives of phenoloc compounds. [M]+, [M-CH3-COO]+, [M-Si(CH3)4]+ and [M-Si(CH3)4 -CH3]+ also observed in mass spectra of these compounds . Although several compounds have the same retention times on GC column, it might be possible to identify these compounds by the different patternsof mass frgement ions. The TMS derivatives, thus , provide additional information for identification of phenolic compounds in biological systems.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.337-348
• /
• 2020

Tropical organic soils having more than 65% of organic matters are named "peat". This soil type is extremely soft, unconsolidated, and possesses low shear strength and stiffness. Different conventional and industrial binders (e.g., lime or Portland cement) are used widely for stabilisation of organic soils. However, due to many factors affecting the behaviour of these soils (e.g., high moisture content, fewer mineral particles, and acidic media), the efficiency of the conventional binders is low and/or cost-intensive. This research investigates the impact of different constituents of cement-sodium silicate grout system on the compressibility behaviour of organic soil, including settlement and void ratio. A microstructure analysis is also carried out on treated organic soil using Scanning Electron Micrographs (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). The results indicate that the settlement and void ratio of treated organic soils decrease gradually with the increase of cement and kaolinite contents, as well as sodium silicate until an optimum value of 2.5% of the wet soil weight. The microstructure analysis also demonstrates that with the increase of cement, kaolinite and sodium silicate, the void ratio and porosity of treated soil particles decrease, leading to an increase in the soil density by the hydration, pozzolanic, and polymerisation processes. This research contributes an extra useful knowledge to the stabilisation of organic soils and upgrading such problematic soils closer to the non-problematic soils for geotechnical applications such as deep mixing.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.44 no.5
• /
• pp.384-390
• /
• 2000

Metabolism study of the dye, benzidine, was performed by gas chromatography-mass selective detector (GC/MSD) in the urine of rats orally administered 100 mg/kg benzidine. Urine samples were collected in metabolic cages for 0-24, 24-48, and 48-72 hrs. Ten ml of the urine was extracted with XAD-2 resin and the XAD-2 column was eluted with methanol. After evaporation, benzidine and its metabolites were extracted with diethyl ether (for non-conjugated fraction). For conjugated metabolites, $\beta$-glucu-ronidase was added to the aqueous layer that was incubated for 1 hr at 5$0^{\circ}C$ and the aqueous layer was extracted as in non-conjugated fraction. Aliquot of trimethylsilylated derivatives was applied to the GC/MSD. The mutagenicity of benzidine and its acetylated metabolites was tested by histidine/reversion assay. Five metabolites observed and confirmed either by electron impact and chemical ionization modes of the GC/MSD, or authentic compounds were monoacetyl-, diacetyl-, hydroxyacetyl-, hydroxydiacetyl-, and hydroxy-benzidine. Monoacetyl-benzidine was more potent than benzidine in histidine/reversion assay. This data indicates that monoacetylation of benzidine may be one of the metabolites produced in metabolic activation process.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.47 no.2
• /
• pp.303-309
• /
• 2019

Earlier studies by our group revealed that gallic acid in phytochemicals stimulated biofilm production in epiphytes, while caffeic acid in phytochemicals inhibited biofilm production in non-epiphytes. It is well documented that antimicrobial secretion by some epiphytic bacteria inhibits non-epiphytic bacterial growth on leaf surfaces. These selection criteria help plants choose their microbial inhabitants. Calcium and iron in phytochemicals also stimulate biofilm formation and thus, may be selection criteria adopted by plants with respect to their native epiphytic population. Furthermore, the processing of leaves during phytochemical extraction impacts the composition of the extract, and therefore its ability to affect bacterial biofilm formation. Computation of the Hurst exponent using biofilm thickness data obtained from the Ellipsometry of Brewster Angle Microscopic (BAM) images is an efficient tool for understanding the impact of phytochemicals on epiphytic and non-epiphytic populations when compared to fluorescent microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and staining techniques. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that uses the Hurst exponent to elucidate the mechanism involved in plant microbe interaction.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
• /
• v.47 no.4
• /
• pp.472-485
• /
• 2019

When wood plastic composites (WPCs) have been used for a certain period of time, they become waste materials and should be recycled to reduce their environmental impact. Waste WPCs can be transformed into reinforced composites, in which fillers are used to improve their performance. In this study, recycled WPCs were prepared using different proportions of waste WPCs, nanoclay, and glass fiber. The effects of nanoclay and glass fiber on the microstructural, mechanical, thermal, and water absorption properties of the recycled WPCs were investigated. X-ray diffraction showed that the nanoclay intercalates in the WPCs. Additionally, scanning electron micrographs revealed that the glass fiber is adequately dispersed. According to the analysis of mechanical properties, the simultaneous incorporation of nanoclay and glass fiber improved both tensile and flexural strengths. However, as the amount of fillers increases, their dispersion becomes limited and the tensile and flexural modulus were not further improved. The synergistic effect of nanoclay and glass fiber in recycled WPCs enhanced the thermal stability and crystallinity ($X_c$). Also, the presence of nanoclay improved the water absorption properties. The results suggested that recycled WPCs reinforced with nanoclay and glass fiber improved the deteriorated performance, showing the potential of recycled waste WPCs.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.51 no.7
• /
• pp.1816-1821
• /
• 2019

This research investigates the feasibility of using the thermoelectric power to monitor the thermal embrittlement in 2507 super duplex stainless steel (SDSS) exposed to a temperature between $280^{\circ}C$ and $500^{\circ}C$. It is well known that the precipitation of Cr-rich ${\alpha}^{\prime}$ phase as a result of the spinodal decomposition is the major cause of the embrittlement and the loss of corrosion resistance in this material. The specimens are thermally aged at $475^{\circ}C$ for different holding times. A series of mechanical testing including the tensile test, Vickers microhardness measurement, and Charpy impact test are conducted to determine the property changes with holding time due to the embrittlement. The mechanical strengths and ferrite hardness exhibit very similar trends. Scanning electron microscopy images of impactfractured surfaces reveal a ductile to brittle transition in the fracture mode as direct evidence of the embrittlement. It is shown that the thermoelectric power is highly sensitive to the thermal embrittlement and has an excellent linear correlation with the ferrite hardness. This paper, therefore, demonstrates that the thermoelectric power is an excellent nondestructive evaluation technique for detecting and evaluating the $475^{\circ}C$ embrittlement of field 2507 SDSS structures.

• Mycobiology
• /
• v.49 no.2
• /
• pp.173-182
• /
• 2021

Recently, Cryptococcus pseudolongus has been reported as a new pathogen of shiitake (Lentinula edodes). However, its pathological properties are not much known. To further understand its impact on the mushroom, we investigated the pathogen's interactions with the mycelium of shiitake, histopathological properties, host range, and sensitivity to diverse antifungal agents. The strain C. pseudolongus DUCC 4014 inhibited the mycelial growth of L. edodes strain (cultivar Sanjo 701ho) and caused browning in the mycelia confronted with the yeast on PDA. Spray inoculation of the yeast caused an abnormal browning symptom on the cap and/or gills of three shiitake cultivars grown on sawdust media in vinyl bags. Scanning electron microscopic images of the abnormally browned parts of shiitake fruit body illustrated that mushroom tissues were loosed and dispersed in the middle and edge of the cap and the arrangement of basidiospores borne on basidia in the gills was disturbed compared to those of normal shiitake fruit body. Spray inoculation also led to developing abnormal browning on the harvested fruit body, indicating C. pseudolongus could be a problem during mushroom storage. But the yeast was not able to induce abnormal browning on mushrooms of Pleurotus ferulae, Pleurotus fostreatus, and Agaricus bisporus. But it induced browning only on button mushroom (A. bisporus) when they were inoculated after wounding. Tests with 16 kinds of fungicides revealed that the cell growth of C. pseudolongus could be inhibited by benzalkonium chloride at MIC 7 ㎍/ml and benomyl at MIC 3 ㎍/ml.